Improvement in skates



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handit iaia Letters Patent No. 113,062, dated March 28, 1871.

IMPRovsMENT IN sKATEs.

The Schedule referred fn in these Letters Patent and making vparl: ofthe same.

To all whom tt lmay concerny Be it known that we, DAVID KEER and- ASAEBnnnzEn HovnY, of the city and county of' San Francisco, 'State 4ofCalifornia, have invented an 1mprovement in Roller-Skates; and we dohereby de clare the following description and accompanying drawing aresufcient to enable any person skilled inv thc art o r science to whichit most nearly appertains to make and use our said invention orimprovementwithout further invention or experiment.

Our invention relates to improvements in fourwheel roller-skates, suchas are constructed to turn from side to sideV in cuiwes or circles bytilting the skate-block with the foot or shifting the weight of theskater to either side ofthe skate; and

It consists- First, in providing a plate to Qerve as a bearing for thejournal which turns in the foot-block, which shall have a lug orprojection cast with or upon it, and which shall serve to prevent thedisplacement of the truck in which the wheels revolve and relieve thestrain upon the bearings.

It also consists in an improved method of seating the rubber block orspring upon the foot-block so that it can bev more o r less compressed,as desired; and also in the'standard which bears upon the block, and bymeans of which the trucks are held in position.

In, order to more fully explain our invention, reference is had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, iu which- Arepresents the foot-block of any roller-skate.

The wheels C revolve upon the axle d, inside of a truck or frame, B,which is secured to the bottom of the skate-block by having one endsupported at the lower extremity of a standard, e, while the oppositeend is supported by a journal,f, which turns in a bearing directly underthe skatefblock, thus causing the frame to stand at an angle to theblock when the block is turned or canted upon the wheels to the positionsuitable for carrying the skate around in a curve.

In order to provide a bearing for the journal f, we use a metal plate orbox, g, which has a recess at its middle in which the journal bears.

This plate is secured to the under side of the skateblock by means of'vscrews or other suitable device, and has cast .upon it a lug orprojection, t, which, when the frame is secured on the block, will passdown between the two central bars j of the frame, and a little inside ofthe cross-bar k, so that the frame can move up and down outside of it.

When the skate is in use the pressure upon the wheels necessary to carrythe skater forward or backward will be received by the standard e andlug c', the cross-bar k striking against the lug when an unusualpressure is brought to bear, thus providing a support at both ends ofthe frame.

At the center of the frame B we cast upon it a hollow standard, L, whichextends up toward the bottom ofthe skatc-block. 'j

On the upper face or rim of this standard we form a ange, n.

The India-rubber spring or cushion P rests upon a screw, r, which screwsinto the skate-block.

The upper face of the standard L bears against the opposite side of therubber cushion and keeps it in place, while the tension of the springkeeps the rollerframe horizontal.

When the skate-block is turned the pressure of the standard upon thecushion allows it to rock slightly upon the screw, giving an easy turn.

By removing the frame B from its bearings the screw 'r can be set out orin, as desired, in order to give more or less or an easier elasticity tothe rubber block, thus permitting it to be compressed to suit thewearer.

By this means we greatly improve the ordinary roller-skate. The lug c'gives an additional support to the frame and prevents breakage; thehollow stand-` ard with its flanged face holds the India-rubber springin place and prevents it from Working or crawling out of position, whilethe ready manner of regulating the tension of the cushion ,gives animproved and more durable skate than those ordinarily used. Having thusdescribed our invention, \Vhat we claim, and desire to securel byLetters Patent, is 1. The plate or box g, provided with the lug-fl, incombination with the journal fand cross-bar k, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. 'lhe hollow standard L, cast-upon'the frame B,`

